TEHRAN - Iran has temporarily closed its consulate in the Afghan city of Heart after some Afghan protesters attacked the Iranian consulate on Sunday, according to a diplomatic source.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry official, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that Tehran has sent an official letter of protest to the Afghan Embassy in Tehran in regard to the incident during which some Afghans gathered in front of the Iranian consulate and threw sticks and stones at the building and broke a number of doors and windows, the Persian service of IRNA reported on Tuesday.

On Sunday, about 200 Afghans attacked the Iranian consulate to protest the alleged killing of 13 Afghan migrant workers three months ago by Iranian security forces while trying to illegally cross into Iran.

Tehran has denied the allegations, calling them “false” and “baseless” and has asked Afghan authorities to provide evidence in this regard.

However, the Afghan authorities have failed to provide any evidence so far.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry official, Tehran has stated in the letter that the Afghan government is responsible for providing security for diplomatic buildings in Afghanistan and protecting foreign diplomats.

The official said that the Islamic Republic of Iran has asked Afghan officials to provide explanation about the incident and also to take the measures necessary to ensure that such incidents would not happen in the future.

MT/EP

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